Control Yuan steps up probe into influence cases

Staff writer, with CNA

Fri, Oct 04, 2013 - Page 3

The Control Yuan said it would step up investigations into allegations of improper influence and illegal wiretapping in the government.

Hung Te-hsuan (洪德旋), a member of the top supervisory body, who has been looking into former justice minister Tseng Yung-fu’s (曾勇夫) alleged intervention in a court case, has been joined by another member, Wu Feng-shan (吳豐山), in a bid to make the probe “more comprehensive.”

“We are speeding up our investigation and expect to complete it within two or three months,” Wu said, adding that the Control Yuan can only “act within the law to find out the facts,” as the improper influence case has become more complicated, extending even to President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).

Tseng stepped down last month after State Prosecutor General Huang Shih-ming (黃世銘) gave a press conference disclosing the minister’s alleged involvement in suppressing a court case at the behest of two senior members of the Legislature. Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) allegedly tried to help Democratic Progressive Party caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) avoid further legal battles in a breach of trust case. Ker was found not guilty, but the prosecution was reportedly going to appeal for a re-trial.

Wu also said he and Hung will investigate whether justice officials were acting in accordance with the law when gathering evidence against the legislators.

As for Ma, who doubles as chairman of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), Wu said he will consider the possibility of an “inquiry” with the president over the incident. The Control Yuan’s probe results will not have legal binding force because it only has “administrative investigative” power meant to reprimand malfeasance.